Improvement in locks



UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

WILLIAM B. DODDS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF ANI) NEILMACNEALE,

OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOCKS.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM B. Donns, of- Cincinnati, in the county ofHamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Locks for Safes or other-Purposes 5 and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of thisspecification, in which- Figure l is an elevation of the lock, viewedfrom the inside, the bolt being projected. Fig. 2 is an elevation of thelock, viewed from the inside, the bolt being retracted. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of one of the tumblers with its accompanying annularplate and washer. Fig. et is a view of one of the tumblers with acircular series of holes for the pin on the annular plate, which isrepresented detached in Fig. 6. Fig. 5 is a view of one of thedisktumblers with notches in its periphery. Fig. 7 is a detached view ofone of the stationary washers which are interposed between the tumblers.Fig. S is a sectional view of the shaft and side view of the socket, andFig. 9 is an elevation of the same.

The nature of my said invention consists,

` rst, in the employment of a gravitating dog pivoted to the lock-boltand engaging with the notches of the tumblers, so as by their movementto operate the bolt; second,in the method of operating each of theseries of permutation-tumblers after the first or prime moving tumblerby means of an annular plate with a tongue and pin, which latter iscapable of engaging in any one of the circular series of holes in thetumbler to which it belongs, and which projects through so as to engagewith the tongue of the annular plate appertaining to the next tumbler ofthe series.

The following description will enable any one skilled in the art towhich my invention appertains to fully understand and use the C is apermanent` which pass through slots c and e in the bolt. F is a dogwhich is pivoted at one end to the bolt D, the other end being providedwith a l downwardly-projecting bit, F l, which on suitable occasionsengages with the notches in the permutation-tumblers, to be describedhereinafter.

Rigidly secured to the case is a socket, G, through which passes theshaft H of the handle by which the tumblers are rotated, and on whichthe tumblers J J 2, &c., and their interposed plates and washers arearranged. The shaft is provided near its end with a square, I, on whichthe outermost tumbler, J, is placed (relatively to the shaft) so thatYit must revolve with the shaft, the other tumblers receiving theirmotion through it, as will be explained. Each tumbler has a notch, J4,of a suitable size and shape for the reception ot' the bit F of the dogF, and also has a circular series of holes or notches, J5 or J6, Figs.et and 5. Each tumbler is accompanied by an annular plate, K, which hasan arm, K', provided with a pin, K2. These plates are capable ofrotation on the socket Gor on the shaft H, so that the pins K2 may beplaced in either of the holes or notches J5 or JU, in the disktumblers.rlhese pins project so far beyond the lengths of these said holes ornotches that they engage the arms on the annular plates belonging to thetumbler next in series, so as to communicate motion thereto. 'Ihepin onthe plate belonging to the last tumbler-that is, the one nearest to thehandle, and which is the last to receive motion and the first one. to besetdoes not project beyond the tumbler to which it belongs, as thereremains no work beyond this point in connection with the permutationarrangement. An annular washer, L,is inten posed between the annularplate and the preceding tumbler, speaking relatively to their order oftime in receiving motion from the shaft. Each of these washers has aninwardly projecting tooth, l, Fig. 7, which enters alongitudinal slot inthe exterior of the socket G, so as to prevent rotation of thesewashers, which might be communicated to the next tumbler other than bythe appropriate method provided were the washers allowed to rotate.

The tumblers, having been arranged on the shaft, as has been described,are operated by the turning of the handle tothe -riglitand to the left,so as to bring the notches J/ in line parallel with the shaft H, and inaccordance with the prearranged formula. This being common in such casesdoes not require eX- tended description here. This point being reachedand the bolt being supposed to be projected, the bit of the dog F fallsinto the notches of the tumblers, and by rotation of the handle the sideof the notch in the outer tumbler, which has a positive motion from theshaft, pressing against the dog, operates and retracts the bolt. ln theact of projectingthe bolt the other side of the notch in the outertumbler engages the slanting side of the bit Il1l as the shaft isrevolved, shooting the dog and bolt, the back of the dog rubbing againstthe stump, which prevents its being raised out ot' the notch until thepoint is reached when the shoulder M passes the stump. The limit of thethrow being attained, the further rotation of the positive tumbler,acting on the inclined side otthebit7 elevates the dog, throwing it outotl the notch, so that the shoulder M locks against the stump and theend ofthe bit rides upon the periphery of the diskltumbler. The tumblersmay then be rotated so as to throw them out ot' their order ot'combinations, and the lock is securely fastened. The return motion hasbeen described.

The motion of the bolt is prevented at all times except when the bit ofthe dog has fallen into the tumbler-notches, the tumbler being the onlymeans by which it can be operated.

The special merit of the arrangement described nnder the first head inthe preamble, and consisting of the gravitating dog pivoted to the boltand engaging in the notches of the tumblers, is that both the motions ofthe bolt are accomplished by means of the simple rotation of the handleand shaft communicated to it through the tumblers. In all other locksthe tumblers operate merely to prevent the motion of the bolt until theproper adjustments are attained, when the bolt is rendered capable ofbeing moved by special appliances adapted to that end. In this lock thetumblers are the means of placing the requisite impediment in the way ofthe motions of the bolt until the conditions are complied with, and,further, the prime motor tumbler is the direct, positive, and only meansof moving the bolt. This dispenses with any special appliances forthrowing the bolt independently of the mechanism for operating` thetumblers, and prevents the tentative tampering with the latter by astrain being kept upon the boltf throwing device, whereby the locationof the notches might be discovered.

By this device all the known modes by which lock-pickers operate, suchas tentative pressure or measurements, die., are precluded because whenthe bit of the dog is thrown out oi' the tumblers, it simply rides upontheir periphery by its own weight and no pressure can be brought to bearupon the bolt or the dog,rnor any motion obtained except the simplerotation or' the shaft and its tumblers, accomplishing nothing which canindicate the location ot' the notches, for this reason, that the dogenters the notches of the' tumblers when they are brought into linewithout the pressure of a spiing or any other means except its owngravitation and independently of any direct motion under the control ofor subject to the touch of the operator, and cannot be acted upon by anyapplication from the exterior of the door. There is no spring used inany part of the lock.

The permutation arrangement which has been described in detail by letterin a former part of specification affords the means within a limitedspace of a great number of changes by the location of the pins attachedto the annular plates in one or other of the series of holes in thedisktumblers to which they belong.

A dial is placed upon the outside of the door and rotates with theshank. The number of diversions upon it corresponds with the number ofholes for changes in the disk tumblers.

The pins on each of the annular plates having been located in any one ofthe circular series of holes in the tumblers to which they respectivelybelong, it becomes necessary to ascertain the combination on which ithas been set up, which is done by bringing the tumbler nearest to thehandle or the last in series, speaking in the order ot' time n moving sothat the notch ot' the said tumbler is opposite to the bit of the dog,by looking on the outer side the number on the dial opposite to theindex mark is then noted, and the second tumbler manipulated to bringits notch also opposite to the bit, when the dial is again referred to,and the number noted. So, also, of the other two tumblers as in the easerepresented in the drawing where four tumblers are shown.

It may be mentioned that in setting the consecutive tumblers they areoperated by an alternate right and left hand motion, but this, being theordinary method, need not be enlarged upon.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim therein as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The method of operatin g and detaining thc bolt by means ofthe dogpivoted thereto, the bit ofthe dog engaging the notches in the tumblers,and the notch on the top of the dog engaging the notches the detentstumpwhen the bolt is thrown, substantially as deand represented.

2. The method ot` operating and adjusting the disk-tumblers by theapplication to each ot' a disk or annular armed plate provided with apin, which latter projects through the ing oy the tooth which engages inthe stot 11 hole in its appropriate tumbler and engages the socket,substantially as and for the pur- With the arm of the annular plateappertainpose described.

ing to the tumbler nextin series, substantially as described. Witnesses:

3. The Washer interposed between the tumblers in the series andprevented from rotat- W. B. DODDS.

EDWARD H. KNIGHT, C. D. SMITH.

